Category: FAQs

We at SES Labour Solutions know a job interview can sometimes be an intimidating experience. While your resume will get to the table, your job interview should provide a clear picture of who you are, what you do, and what you are good at. Though people often struggle when asked to ‘Tell us something about yourself’ in a job interview. This is actually one of the best opportunities to pitch yourself and solidify who you are in your interviewer’s mind. A good pitch should answer four key questions: who are you, what can you do, what do you want, and what value can you add to the organisation?

Develop job interview pitch

Prepare your job interview pitch by writing down keywords. What characterises you? How do you work? What was a successful project you worked on? Based on these keywords, write down your pitch in full. Practise reading what you have written out loud, then shorten it by systematically shaving out anything which isn’t absolutely necessary. Try to repeat this process several times until you are left with something short and to the point which only highlights the most important things.

Keep it personal

A good pitch should also include some information about what keeps you busy outside working hours. This helps to add authenticity to what you are saying and enthusiasm to the way in which you deliver it. Whether it is sports, a creative hobby or the travelling you have done, tell the interviewer what you like to do and what you are passionate about – enthusiasm is infectious!

End with a question

To avoid ending your pitch abruptly, cap it off by posing a question to your interviewer. Try asking a question about the organisation or the function in a way which links back to your story. Did you just tell them that you are eager to learn? Then end your pitch with a question about the training opportunities within the job. Your question will be a natural ending to your pitch and will help emphasise your interest in the specifics of the role.

While these three tips are far everything you should consider, they’re a great place to start. You can find further tips here.

Looking for more

When looking to get hired in the mining industry and improving your resume, our team believes there’s no magic bullet or golden piece of advice which will get you a job. In saying that, one of our top recruiters Matt H has shared a few common mistakes you can easily avoid.

Tip #1 – Keep resume up-to-date

It’s baffling how often people will submit outdated resumes which effectively short-change the amount of experience they have. Take the time to update your resume, including the addition of any new roles, skills or tickets. This is information will absolutely determine whether or not you’re considered for the job.

When updating your resume it is important to make sure your resume is correctly formatted. If this is a skill you need support in, there are resume writing services available. When choosing this option make sure you can proofread and edit the final document to add new experience, skills and information.

Tip #2 – Don’t skimp on resume details

Your resume should include when and where you have previously worked. We believe only detailing anything relevant to your current career, it is not necessary to detail all the way back to your first after-school job at Maccas. Clearly list the exact machinery you have operated, serviced or built, including the machinery model names.

Your qualifications, licences and tickets are also a valuable piece to the puzzle. It is important you detail when and where you acquired relevant qualifications as this is something your potential employer will be looking at. It also not appropriate to tell a potential employer your age and they probably don’t want to hear about your pets and hobbies.

Tip #3 – Explain gaps in work history

Our recruiters mentioned its okay to have breaks and irregularities in your work history, but you should be prepared to explain to them. Most recruiters and potential employers will want more information surrounding any gaps they see. The key is to be honest and upfront about your history. A police background check or pre-employment medical is often requested and will identify any areas of concern.

Tip #4 – Check your online activity

Matt H says, make sure your online activity isn’t shooting you in the foot. The hilarious email you created in primary school to amuse your mates may be a barrier to receiving job offers. There are plenty of free email providers out there, so consider creating a new email account dedicated to professional use.

Also, be wary that employers increasingly scan job candidates’ social media profiles. Check your Facebook privacy settings and make sure any images or comments that are publicly visible are ones you are happy for potential employers to see.

Tip #5 – Walk & talk workplace safety

A good understanding of safety is very high on employers’ list of desired qualities in a candidate. Matt always looks for good safety behaviours in his candidates, so he recommends being prepared to answer safety-related questions in your interview.

While these five points are far from everything you should consider, they’re a great place to start for improving your chances of getting hired by SESLS and more generally across the mining industry.

SES Labour Solutions recently announced a partnership with Fitzroy Australia Resources which will involve placing 350 workers in the new Ironbark No.1 mine, located outside of Moranbah, Central Queensland. We encourage interested individuals to refer to following information regarding job opportunities arising from the project.

How do I apply for a job at the Ironbark No.1 mine?

SES Labour Solutions’ recruitment process for the Ironbark No.1 mine is not expected to commence until mid 2019. However, if you would like to register your interest in the meantime, we encourage you to:

Email your resume and any relevant qualifications/certificates to underground@sesls.com.auso we can contact you when we start recruiting,

Follow SES Labour Solutions’ social accounts (Facebook, LinkedIn) for updates on the project and its timeframes.

What roles will you be recruiting for?

While the exact roles and quantities are yet to be finalised, we expect that these will be a combination of underground operators and various underground trades. We will be recruiting for a mix of new and experienced workers.

Are there fly-in, fly-out roles on offer?

No. The intention is to recruit candidates who are already from, or are prepared to relocate to Mackay, Moranbah and the surrounding areas.

I’ve never worked in the mining industry before, how do I get one of the entry-level roles mentioned?

We will be seeking new-to-industry workers when the recruitment process commences in mid 2019. At this time we will advertise the available roles.

Do you have any other positions on offer in the meantime?

Yes, we are always looking for suitably qualified mining and civil industry candidates. You can view and apply for roles on the SES Labour Solutions job board.